THE first sod has been turned at Anam Cara’s new $22 million hospice facility.<\/p>\n
Located on two hectares at Deakin University, the new building will provide support for those with a life-limiting illness and their carers, as well as allowing medical and research training to be completed in collaboration with students.<\/p>\n
After lodging plans for a major redevelopment in 2018, Anam Cara’s board chair Diana Taylor was delighted to turn the first sod during the official March 12 event at Waurn Ponds.<\/p>\n
“This is a momentous day for not only the hardworking staff, volunteers and supporters at Anam Cara, but also for the region who has a very real and growing need for greater choice in end-of-life care and carer respite,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We want to thank the Australian Government, and in particular Senator Sarah Henderson, for the commitment of $5 million to kickstart our vision in 2016.<\/p>\n
“We want to also thank the Victorian Government for their recent commitment of $5 million to enable us to commence construction.”<\/p>\n
The project has accumulated a further $7 million from community fundraising with a target of $5 million remaining.<\/p>\n
“Philanthropic fundraising will continue, including a public campaign in June 2021 to provide the opportunity for the whole of Geelong to help us build the new Anam Cara,” Ms Taylor said.<\/p>\n
The unique home-like environment will host 20 beds and provide clinical care from trained palliative care nurses and volunteers while taking the place of the existing four-bed facility.<\/p>\n
During Friday’s official event, Senator Henderson said the Morrison Government took the idea and ran with it after being approached by Anam Cara.<\/p>\n
“For 18 months it was hard to see what it would look like but now it is clear this is a beautiful place for those with life-limiting illnesses,” she said.<\/p>\n
“This is a wonderful health facility to have in our region and an investment into our most precious people.”<\/p>\n
Ms Henderson says health and wellbeing is paramount to the Morrison Government, who worked night and day to support this project.<\/p>\n
As a part of the collaboration with Deakin University, a Research and Training Agreement has been signed which will allow for ongoing hands-on teaching in partnership with the Faculty of Health, the School of Medicine and Anam Cara House Geelong.<\/p>\n
Vice-chancellor Professor Iain Martin said this partnership would improve the experiences of those experiencing life-limiting illnesses.<\/p>\n
“The new facility will provide the best care for what is inevitably the hardest journey for any family,” Prof. Martin said.<\/p>\n
With Nicholson Construction leading the build, the new hospice facility is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2022.<\/p>\n
“The new facility will provide a significant boost to local hospice services, it will also deliver employment opportunities within the trade and healthcare sectors,” Ms Taylor said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE first sod has been turned at Anam Cara’s new $22 million hospice facility. Located on two hectares at Deakin University, the new building will provide support for those with a life-limiting illness and their carers, as well as allowing medical and research training to be completed in collaboration with students. After lodging plans for […]<\/p>\n